Light Up the North (LUTN) is a network of light festivals across the North of England. Nine of these festivals are working together through SHINE to commission up to two artists or collectives in 2025.

  
The SHINE programme aims to nurture and develop new talent and is open to anyone (aged 18 or over) with an idea for a shining light artwork, and the skills to realise that idea. The chosen artworks will be exhibited at four/five of the following LUTN festivals:

  
* Lightpool
* Light Night Leeds
* BD is Lit
* Barnsley Bright Nights
* Light Up Wakefield
* Nightfall Middlesbrough
* Lightwaves Salford
* Illuminate Oldham
* Colliderfest 25

The SHINE commission budget of up to £18,000 should cover all artist fees and materials, including technical, installation, operational and material costs. Reasonable travel and transportation costs will be considered separately. If needed, you can apply for match funding from other sources, but ensure you have planned for and are prepared to do this. Accommodation can be provided by the host festivals if required. Other costs such as meals and general overheads must be factored into the commission. The successful proposals will be supported with agreed additional fees towards the costs of site visits.

  
As well as financial support, each commissioned artist will also receive a full induction to the programme, training and mentoring from across the LUTN network. We will work directly with commissioned artists to support their development, with guidance in areas such as marketing, finance, production, risk assessments method statements (RAMS) and budgeting.

SHINE Emerging Artist Programme

The whole programme is designed to be welcoming, accessible, relaxed and friendly. SPARK artists will also be invited to share their current area/s of research and development and workshops will be tailored to key elements of making successful light art. Previous SPARK programmes have shown that participants really benefit from peer to peer sharing as well as collective support from the core group of LUTN creative producers. Where feasible, artists who are presenting work at Nightfall/ Light Up Lancaster will deliver workshops for the SPARK participants.

  
SPARK artists will also be invited to attend rewarding, informal networking events and meetings arranged by the host festival, eg artists brunch, launch events, festival tours, and talks by key figures reflecting the diverse range of artists and makers who make up the art and light art sectors.

  
LUTN is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. This open call actively encourages submissions from artists from demographics currently under-represented in the light festival sector. We welcome applications from anyone regardless of their age, disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality and socio-economic background. 

  
Adjustments will be made to meet any access requirements you have. A Producer will coordinate the project.

Six artists, selected through an open call, will each be awarded bursaries of £300 to participate in the SPARK programme, with additional funds of up to £800 each, allocated to cover travel, accommodation and subsistence costs to attend Nightfall & Light Up Lancaster, where the programme of activity will take place. 

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